Louisiana Signs Sweepstakes Casino Racketeering Law

Casino

By lines

May 25, 2026

The Louisiana sweepstakes casino ban is now law. Gov. Jeff Landry signed two bills targeting dual-currency gambling platforms. Both laws take effect August 1, 2026.

This content is for informational purposes only. Terms and eligibility vary by state.

What HB 53 and HB 883 Do to Sweepstakes Casinos

HB 53 expands Louisiana’s organized crime statute to cover gambling violations. Sweepstakes casino operators now face exposure under the state’s racketeering law. Penalties under HB 53 reach up to 50 years of hard labor. Fines top $1 million, according to Covers.com.

HB 883 takes a separate approach. The bill amends Louisiana’s computer-wagering statute to cover online and mobile games built on dual-currency systems. Platforms that let players purchase or earn virtual coins and redeem them for prizes fall under the new definition. The law covers slots, table games, bingo, and lottery-style titles distributed via app or browser.

Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed Senate Bill 181 in 2025, an earlier sweepstakes ban proposal. Landry argued at the time that existing law already gave prosecutors sufficient authority. HB 53 and HB 883 codify the prohibition explicitly, removing that legal ambiguity. The new package gives law enforcement a broader toolkit than SB 181 created.

Louisiana joins Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Oklahoma, and Tennessee as states that enacted sweepstakes restrictions in 2026. The August 1 effective date gives Louisiana players roughly ten weeks to redeem outstanding Sweeps Coins. Major platforms including Chumba Casino and WOW Vegas have previously exited states ahead of enforcement deadlines.